(Source: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America)
*LL Cool J wants y’all to know that despite earlier reports, he never landed a lip balm endorsement because “they didn’t like my black lips.”
After 13 studio albums and more than 30 years in the game, LL is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. At the height of his career, the Queens-native was considered a super-delicious sex symbol, and was often fond of going shirtless and constantly licking his lips. Back in 2012, XXL reported that the “NCIS” star licked his lips 34 times at the Grammy awards.
You would think that lip balm companies would be hitting him up for endorsements, especially back in the day due to his rising fame. But LL tells The Blast he was ever approached because brands such as Chapstick “didn’t like my black lips back then.”
Back in 2007 it was reported that LL was negotiating with Chapstick for a deal. “It’s an obvious fit. LL has been licking his lips for 20 years,” manager Chris Lighty told Brand Week. “They’ll get to speak to people who normally would not pick up Chapstick.”
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: WATCH Steph Curry Get Called N-word in China! – Consoled by Wife Ayesha (VIDEO)
S’more NEW ChapStick® flavors have arrived! Introducing the S’mores Collection, including mouthwatering Graham Cracker, #Marshmallow & Milk #Chocolate! #flavorlove #chapstickobsessed #ChapStickSmores #wegmans #amazon #7eleven #walmart #boxedwholesale pic.twitter.com/HFc7aPGkkx
— ChapStick® (@ChapStick) June 19, 2019
Chapstick is one of several corporations who passed over LL as he was on the come up in the rap game. Complex writes: “the best example of this is his infamous Gap commercial. In 1999, LL was tapped to freestyle about the Gap for a series of ads featuring singers and dancers. Unbeknownst to the retailer, LL turned this into one of the wittiest juggs ever. Not only did he cleverly undermine the Gap, he also turned the commercial into a promotion for the black-owned FUBU clothing brand.”
The rapper decided to go a little “off script” while shooting the TV spot and referenced the brand by rapping what the acronym stands for, “For Us, By Us.”
Heavy reported that the folks over at Gap didn’t realize the nod to urban-clothing lable til months later. The move was a game changer for FUBU CEO Daymond John.
“FUBU was clever enough to put a hat on LL in a Gap commercial,” Esco Clothing founder Willie Esco Montanez said, according to Complex. “Changed everything.”
Watch LL’s GAP ad below:
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
